Improvement in combined paper clips and weights



I. cum, COMBINED PAPER-CLIP AND WEIGHT.

Patented Fe.b.1i,1876.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB CAIN, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO FLODOARDO HOWARD, OF WASHINGTON, D. O

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED PAPER CLIPS AND WEIGHTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 172,963, dated February 1,1876; application filed December 21, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB GAIN, of Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Iinprovementsin Combined Paper Clip and Weight; and I do hereby declare that the vfollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it. pertains tomake and.

- paper clip and weight; Fig. 2, a similar view,

showing the manner of operating the device to grasp a bank of paper and Fig.3, a vertical section.

The device in appearance resembles the familiar weights used principally by apothecaries. In this state it could of course readily perform thefunction of a paper-weight merely; but to give such weight the additional function of a paper-clip, I provide theweight with a separate bottom disk, at, from which a central stem, 1), rises through a sleeve, 0, or hol low vertical opening in the main portion or holder d of the weight. This hollow sleeve is provided with an annular seat, 6, upon which the lower end ofa spiral spring, f, is supported. This spiral springwithinthe hollow sleeve incloses the stem b, which stem projects a short distance above the neck g of the weight. This part so projecting is provided with a male thread, which engages with a female thread of a hollow knob or cap, h, which, when screwed down, depresses the spiral. The

tension of the spring acts upon-the annular seat 0, to exert a force which keeps the main portion in contact with the bottom disk (1, or

the paper interposed between said disk and holder.

The device may be made of any suitable material, butis preferably made of white metal, plated.

The holder on its obverse may present the appearance of a hollow cup,or it may be made solid, except as to its interior hollow sleeve forthe spring and stem. 1 To operate the device pass the index and second finger under the flange of the neck, with back of hand to desk and ball of thumb upon 'the cap. Approach the fingers and thumbto eachother, and the holder is thereby raised from the bottom disk. In the opening made insert the banked sheets of paper with the free hand and release the grasp upon the parts of the device, when the paper is securely clipped; for releasing it the same operation, except, of course, the paper is removed instead of being inserted. Each sheet of paper, when full of writing, can readily be released and laid aside without disturbing the bank.

I claim- A combined paper clip and weight, for the purposes described, consisting of the holder d, I

with its flanged neck 9 and central hollow sleeve 0, provided with seat 6, in combination with the bottom disk a, provided with rising stem b, threaded at its termination to receive the screw cap h, which confines the spring, exerting its force to keep the holder and disk in approach.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have affixe'd my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J AC OB CAIN.

Witnesses:

J. SHUEMAKER, W. W. SNYDER. 

